BitFunder Founder Charged by SEC for Stealing $61 Million Worth of BTC 677

Today, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) brought charges against Jon E. Montroll and his exchange BitFunder for operating an unregistered securities exchange and defrauding users. On top of that, the agency also charged the operator — Montroll — with making false and misleading statements in connection with an unregistered offering of securities. BitFunder was a platform that permitted users to buy and sell virtual “shares” of various digital currency-related enterprises in exchange for Bitcoin.

“We allege that BitFunder operated unlawfully as an unregistered securities exchange.  Platforms that engage in the activity of a national securities exchange, regardless of whether that activity involves digital assets, tokens, or coins, must register with the SEC or operate pursuant to an exemption.  We will continue to focus on these types of platforms to protect investors and ensure compliance with the securities laws,” said Marc Berger, Director of the SEC’s New York Regional Office.

The SEC’s complaint, filed in federal district court in Manhattan, charges Montroll and BitFunder with violations of the anti-fraud and registration provisions of the federal securities laws. The complaint seeks permanent injunctions and disgorgement plus interest and penalties. 

The agency alleges Montroll operated BitFunder as an unregistered online securities exchange and defrauded exchange users by misappropriating their Bitcoin, and also for failing to disclose a cyberattack on BitFunder’s system that resulted in the theft of more than 6,000 Bitcoin. Going off the price of Bitcoin today, that’s about $61,800,000.

“As alleged in the complaint, Montroll defrauded exchange users by misappropriating their bitcoins and failing to disclose a cyberattack on the exchange’s system and the resulting bitcoin theft.  We will continue to vigorously police conduct involving distributed ledger technology and ensure that bad actors who commit fraud in this space are held accountable,” said Lara S. Mehraban, Associate Regional Director of the SEC’s New York Regional Office.

Unfortunately for Montroll, his legal troubles don’t stop with the SEC: Also today, in a parallel criminal case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York filed a complaint against him for perjury and obstruction of justice during the SEC’s investigation. This implies that Montroll, in some way, must have not fully cooperated with the SEC during the agency’s investigation.

This case comes as the SEC is cracking down on other companies and individuals it believes are partaking in shady business within the crypto-space. In January of this year, the agency advised people to “exercise caution” with Bitcoin and other digital currencies.

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Rarimo Foundation Launches MetaMask Snap, RariMe, Enabling Cryptocurrencies and Identity Credentials To Be Stored and Managed From A Single Wallet 2335

Rarimo Foundation has launched RariMe, a MetaMask Snap that enables MetaMask users to store and manage identity credentials through their MetaMask wallet, developed by Consensys.

RariMe is built with MetaMask’s Snaps platform, which launched on 12 September and allows developers to build applications that can bring new functionalities to MetaMask’s users.

RariMe introduces an entirely new social identity function to MetaMask and ends wallet fragmentation; users will no longer have to switch between their identity and digital asset wallets. In a single swoop, MetaMask users will instantly have access to identity storage and privacy-enhancing Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKPs) generation and management. Given that in 2022, MetaMask surpassed 100 million users, this significantly expands the presence of digital identity.

RariMe also further improves the user experience, by ensuring that all credentials are fully multi-chain. For one of the first times in Web3, users will not have to issue separate proofs for separate chains. Instead, they can issue a proof on the chain of their choice and then use it seamlessly across Ethereum, Polygon, BNB Chain, and Avalanche. This is possible because RariMe was built atop of interoperability protocol, Rarimo, which enables state replication and on-chain verification.

Lasha Antadze, Co-Founder of Rarify Labs, commented, “RariMe snap dramatically improves the user experience around digital identities. Users will no longer have to switch between multiple apps and interfaces and the friction between identities and crypto has been removed. This will fuel the growth of the digital identity space and the many emerging Web3 movements that require identities, including decentralized social media and on-chain gaming.”

“MetaMask is thrilled to welcome Rarimo as one of the trailblazing builders for MetaMask Snaps. We strongly believe that permissionless innovation is fundamental to a decentralized ecosystem. With Snaps, we’re not just expanding features; we’re excited to see Rarimo use Snaps to open the doors to digital identities, credentials management, and decentralized social protocols, ultimately empowering our users like never before,” said Christian Montoya, Product Lead at MetaMask Snaps.

From launch, RariMe will be integrated with Rarimo’s Proof-of-Humanity plug-in which was released last month to enable users to leverage identity credentials from Unstoppable Domains, Civic, and Gitcoin to prove that they are humans and not bots. RariMe will automatically provide users with an end-to-end flow on the reputation-building platforms Galxe, Zeely, and quest focused application QuestN.

About Rarimo

Rarimo is the interoperability protocol for digital social identities. Its distinctive infrastructure enables identity components to be integrated on-chain, and seamlessly ported across ecosystems. This ensures that Web3 can develop without the walled gardens and cumbersome identity practices of Web2.

About Rarimo Foundation

Rarimo Foundation is a not-for-profit company devoted to implementing the decisions of the Rarimo DAO.

About Rarify Labs

Rarify Labs is an ecosystem contributor dedicated to advancing Rarimo.

ETH Riyadh 2023: Exploring the Future of the Web3 Ecosystem 2809

On October 11th, 2023, ETH Riyadh 2023, presented by Tharawat Technology, Studio 23, ChainIDE, Coffee with Crypto, and Mask, is poised to assemble developers, innovators, and the global blockchain community in a dynamic exchange of ideas and technological advancements. Riyadh is once again primed to assert itself as a global epicenter for blockchain innovation with the imminent arrival of the ETH Riyadh 2023 conference.

Riyadh represents a burgeoning center for digital innovation, with a growing tech-savvy community and an environment conducive to the adoption of emerging technologies. The strategic location in the heart of the Middle East makes Riyadh an ideal meeting point for blockchain enthusiasts from diverse regions, fostering international collaboration and innovation.

EthRiyadh 2023 is a series of hybrid events, hosted both online and offline, featuring three distinct stages. It kicks off with the META to Global Web3 Builder Competition, taking place from September 18th to October 12th. This competition will feature multiple tracks focusing on the latest innovations in the web3 industry and blockchain technology, encouraging developers and innovators to showcase their skills and creativity.

Following with the Builder Conference that Scheduled for October 11th. This part of the event promises captivating talks and panel discussions led by leaders and visionaries in the blockchain field. Attendees will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights into emerging trends and groundbreaking technologies that are shaping the future of web3 and Ethereum.

The event culminates with the online Builder Mixer, taking place on October 12th. This is a unique opportunity for participants to connect with a vibrant community of builders, fostering growth and mutual success. Attendees can share stories about their experiences in building and forging meaningful connections that may lead to future achievements in the blockchain industry.

For more information about ETH Riyadh 2023, including registration details and agenda updates, please visit [www.ethriyadh.com].

Solar Dex to relaunch on Quai Network 3729

While many solutions for blockchain scalability have been proposed, they remain unable to crack the blockchain trilemma, sacrificing security and decentralization. Quai is the first blockchain protocol that is simultaneously decentralized, censorship resistant and infinitely scalable. Quai, in contrast to traditional cryptocurrencies, functions as a network of many interoperable blockchains braided together. Due to a breakthrough discovery that occurred during research on proof-of-work, Quai Network utilizes a new consensus mechanism, proof of entropy minima (PoEM), which eliminates all consensus-based forks and enables all Quai nodes to remain in “perpetual consensus.”

Solar Dex began as the first United States-based decentralized exchange on Solana, and will now be pivoting to build on Quai as one of its first DEXs. Due to a loss of TVL on Solana and many Solana-based projects moving strictly to NFTs, the Solar team has decided to get ahead of the DeFi curve and take advantage of Quai’s low-cost, high-speed decentralized network in order to better position Solar Dex for the next bull run. The team at Solar is building on top of Quai Network to “ensure a more sustainable future for Solar Dex.”

Roy Fardin, chief business officer, said: “After talking to the Quai Network team, we have never been more bullish about a layer 1 with scalability and its passion for growth. It was a clear eye-opener that they care about DeFi and want other projects that utilize this network to succeed. The vision behind Quai brings the best of Ethereum and Solana all together into this new network.”

Solar Dex will be reworking the DEX into several components as it builds on Quai. The DEX will not only support traditional swaps, but also add in customizable swap themes. In addition, Solar Dex’s Solar Sentries NFTs will allow staking as a yield opportunity derived by all exchange fees earned from Sentry Mode projects.

Richard, CEO of Solar Dex, said: “On top of traditional DEX swaps, Solar Dex will be adding limit orders on Quai. “We’re doing a total revamp of the website and DEX which should be very aesthetically pleasing and simplistic to onboard new users to DeFi and also Quai.”

With Quai’s Iron Age Testnet beginning in September 2023, Solar Dex will be prioritizing its deployment on Quai for the coming months. There will be incentives to beta-test Solar DEX on Quai and additional generalized rewards will be provided by Quai for participating in the Iron Age Testnet. On top of this, the Solar team will be adding a surprise feature to the DEX to build excitement for Quai’s testnet launch, as well as utilizing its incentive program to reward holders.

With backing from Polychain Capital and an expert team with backgrounds at Apple, GridPlus, Tesla, Consensys, Circle and more, Quai is excited to usher in a new generation of innovative applications that don’t sacrifice decentralization.

Concordium Enables a New Standard of Age Verification Amidst Growing Privacy Concerns 3965

Concordium, the Layer 1, science-backed blockchain creating a safer digital world, proudly unveils Web3 ID: a cutting-edge identification platform offering age-verification capacities designed to prioritize user privacy for both individuals and businesses. Concordium’s age verification tooling works to protect minors online amidst growing global privacy concerns and explicit data-harvesting from technology organisations.

Web3 ID harnesses Concordium’s Zero-Knowledge Proof technology to offer a novel approach to age verification – without ever compromising user data or privacy. By uploading a government-issued form of identification to their wallet, Web3 ID users can drastically reduce the amount of data they disclose during online identity verification, regaining control over any sensitive information.

Mikael Breinholst, Head of Product at Concordium, spoke to the widespread concern surrounding existing online age-verification tools, stating: “Current age verification tools online are a grave area of concern for many. Age-restricted sites have little to no barrier to entry, exposing underage consumers to a universe of adult themed content. Blockchain technology, and Web3 ID specifically, enable businesses to request proof of an individual’s age, without storing their data or selling it to advertisers. With Web3 ID, users maintain autonomy and safety over their personal information while benefiting from blockchain technology’s inherent security.”

Concordium´s built-in ID layer and Zero-Knowledge-Proof technology ensures a user’s online identity is verified in a secure and decentralized manner, all while maintaining privacy. Only strictly relevant information is requested of users when transacting on the Web3 ID platform, while unrelated details are held on a decentralized wallet. Web3 ID users are also granted an increase in transactional security through Concordium’s compliance-friendly technology. In result, individuals and businesses are empowered with complete control over their information, effectively countering the data ownership issues associated with centralized legacy systems.

Kåre Kjelstrøm, CTO & CPO at Concordium, commented: “Concordium’s Web3 ID is intuitive and easy to build upon, offering seamless usability while being cost-effective, shrinking online identification processes. Further to preventing children from accessing age-restricted sites, Web3 ID is capable of sharing specific medical information without the recipient having access to the entirety of an individual’s medical history, proving a user’s driving credentials, or simply ensuring user data is genuine and not the result of bots. This model addresses many of the shortcomings surrounding ID safety caused by big tech’s data monopoly.”

The creation of a new standard of age verification promotes Concordium’s mission of supporting a regulated future for new and existing organisations building on blockchain technology. This achievement follows recent partnerships such as AI service provider 2021.ai, and carbon offset management platform Aqualibre.

For more information on Concordium’s Web3 ID platform, please visit: Concordium.com

About Concordium

Concordium is a permissionless green layer 1, a science-backed blockchain that balances privacy with accountability through its ID layer and Zero-Knowledge-Proofs. Creating trust with ID is key to scaling businesses. Concordium provides a fast, secure, and high-scale blockchain platform that makes building use cases and using dApps easy. Concordium differs by having verified ID and instant finality with high throughput and low transaction fees pegged to FIAT. With leadership from Fortune 500 companies, Volvo, IKEA, Credit Suisse, Uber, and successful Fintech platforms, the team is scaling the chain to its extensive network of the world’s biggest enterprises. For more information: concordium.com

Web3 Social Platform “Cardano Spot” Unveils New Features to Empower Cardano Enthusiasts 4290

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First all-in-one social media platform for everything Cardano, Cardano Spot, has unveiled a series of innovative features. The platform, founded and developed with direct input from the Cardano community, aims to address fragmentation within the Cardano ecosystem, provide a 360-view, and foster enhanced community interaction.

Desktop Project Library

Latest Enhancements for a More Robust Experience

Cardano Spot has launched its latest features to facilitate the expansion of native Cardano projects and their communities.

Open Access. In its upgraded version you can now access both News Feed and Project Library without being required to sign in.

Multilingual News Feed. Additionally, Cardano Spot provides access to a diverse multilingual News Feed, featuring content from Portuguese, Vietnamese, and Indian community members.

Desktop News List

Simplified Registration. The platform now also provides a number of alternative ways for registration, including Twitter, TikTok, and GitHub accounts.

Explore Page. Offers a better user experience through a simple curated view on the latest information about the Cardano ecosystem.

Refer-a-Friend. The newly launched “Refer a Friend” feature enables users to invite friends through a personalized referral link.

A peek into other features:

  • Community Hub: A customized homepage tailored to individual user interests, empowering content creation, user connections, and discovering like-minded communities.
  • News Feed: A source for the latest Cardano ecosystem news, offering educational content, articles, and videos to expand knowledge horizons.
  • Project Library: A comprehensive repository spotlighting projects built on the Cardano Blockchain, complete with explanations, whitepapers, introductory videos, and essential links for personal research.
  • Events Calendar: A consolidated calendar showcasing Cardano-related events, including webinars, discussions, product launches, and more.
  • Market Status: Real-time insights into native token prices, market trends, and tokenomics.

Desktop Events

Sebastian Zilliacus, Managing Director at EMURGO, explained, “Cardano Spot aims to provide trust, transparency, and accurate information about the Cardano ecosystem. We partner with native Cardano projects to achieve this objective.”

About Cardano Spot

Cardano Spot is the first product from EMURGO Media. This Cardano enthusiasts-focused social network serves end-to-end information for the Cardano community. It provides a user-generated interactive platform specifically designed for investment in, distribution, consumption, and monetization of Cardano content. Cardano Spot solves the issue of fragmented content in the Cardano ecosystem by aggregating valuable, quality content from reliable sources in the Cardano ecosystem to give up-to-date developments in the Cardano ecosystem.

For more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/CardanoSpotWeb3Platform.

Wirex and Polygon CDK Join Forces to Revolutionize Digital Payments With W-Pay 4526

Wirex, a major player in crypto payments with over 6 million users, has chosen to partner with Polygon CDK (Chain Development Kit) to create a new App Chain focused on payments, named W-Pay. This move marks a significant development in the world of cryptocurrency payments.

By utilizing Polygon CDK, an advanced blockchain technology toolkit, Wirex aims to enhance the performance and security of its payment system. This technology facilitates faster and more secure transactions.

Pavel Matveev, Wirex’s CEO, explained, “Using Polygon CDK allows us to transition our payment infrastructure to the blockchain, improving efficiency and enabling seamless integration with various decentralized applications.”

Wirex’s status as a regulated entity and a principal member of Visa and Mastercard positions it uniquely to innovate in the payment industry. Matveev added, “Our initial plan includes introducing a non-custodial Visa card for cryptocurrency transactions, making digital assets more accessible in everyday life. Our goal is to bring all 6 million Wirex users into this ecosystem.”

Jordi Baylina, Co-Founder of Polygon, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “Wirex’s adoption of Polygon CDK to create their payment system has the potential to introduce fresh ideas and expand the adoption of digital payments.”

To further enhance the utility of the Wirex ecosystem, the new Wirex App Chain will use Wirex’s own token, WXT, for transactions. This move is expected to increase the demand and functionality of WXT, prompted by interest from large enterprises.

Wirex’s presence with users across various regions underlines its commitment to transforming digital-age payments. With millions of users worldwide, Wirex has been instrumental in making cryptocurrencies accessible for everyday transactions since its inception in 2015.

Founded by Pavel Matveev and Dmitry Lazarichev, Wirex has provided a user-friendly platform for buying, storing, and using cryptocurrencies alongside traditional currencies. Their specialized card allows users to make cryptocurrency transactions in their daily lives.

Wirex continues to evolve its product offerings to align with market trends, while also adhering to regional regulations and securing necessary licenses. As a pioneer in the industry, Wirex introduced its own native utility token, WXT, and initiated the world’s first cryptocurrency reward program, Cryptoback™, offering users cryptocurrency rewards for their transactions.

To adapt to the growing Web3 landscape, Wirex expanded its product suite to enable mainstream access to decentralized finance (DeFi) and wealth management, introducing features like high-interest savings and partnering with decentralized finance platforms.

While headquartered in London, Wirex has expanded its presence globally and processed over $20 billion worth of transactions. With rapid expansion into new territories, including the United States and Australia, Wirex is well-positioned to support and promote the mass adoption of cashless transactions through innovative solutions.

Website: wirexapp.com